Hola everybody:

Once again hope you're all well and still enjoying my "dispatches". Last time I wrote we were in Mazatlan so I will pick it up from there. The trip from Mazatlan to Chapala was pretty uneventful except for the "quotas" which kept getting steeper and steeper while the distances kept getting shorter and shorter. We took a little detour via Tequila on a non paying highway and continued from there to Guadalajara. Not too much to say about Tequila an altogether unimpressive town except for the acres and acres of the distinctively blue green agave from which Tequila is made. There are many roadside stands where one can sample and buy Tequila but since Stan was driving we opted not to partake. Neither of us are great fans of Tequila straight so it wasn't that big a deal.The drive into Guadalajara itself was pretty harrowing. You almost have to have eyes in back of your head. Between the topes, the vibradors, the erratic driving, the buses, the pedestrians, the bikes, the stray dogs and whatever else you can think of let's just say it's no leisurely Sunday drive in the park. Thankfully I wasn't driving and I have to say Stan is doing a fantastic job. I would probably just park the car, if parking were available, and cry. I know it makes me a sissy but I'm strong in other ways. Those of you who really know me know that driving is not one of my forte.In any case we made it to Chapala in one piece. The apt. which I had booked was not available for the night although it was empty but there was nobody there to let us in. We strolled around and took in the sights. There were a lot of people about because we arrived the day before Dia de Los Muertos which is the Day of the Dead and is heavily celebrated. Chapala is a fair size town with a population of about 20,000 plus and it is the biggest town on the lake. There is a malecon which is a promenade along the lake. It's not big but it's very wide and pretty with houses, one hotel and a few restaurants on one side and then the lake. Further on there is a small plaza with a good size Cathedral and then a park filled with vendors. There is also a long pier and all the boats are tied further out on the lake. The boats are no longer used for fishing. They mostly ferry groups of people to a nearby island. The price is pretty expensive unless there are many of you. The lake is the best that it's ever been. For many years it was infested with lirios which are African water hyacinths. They had just taken over the lake and furthermore the lake level was really low. Over the last few years there has been more rain and the authorities have finally sprayed a compound which is toxic to lirios but not to fish. Apparently the lake is now safe to swim in but we haven't really tried it. I want to before we leave. Regarding the lirios it's still a bit of a losing battle. Like the proverbial you know who THEY WILL BE BACK. In fact they are already plotting and gaining ground as I'm typing these words.We found a hotel not far from our apt. with the auspicious name of Monte-Carlo. Actually the rooms were nothing special but the grounds were spectacular with some of the biggest trees I have ever seen, one was over two hundred years old and didn't feel organic when you touched it, that's how incredibly dense it was.In any case we were brutally awaken sometime around midnight by a band of merrymakers intent on pursuing their merrymaking which happened to be right below our room. We're talking LOUD with stereo blasting, loud voices and sporadic bursts of singing. We did put up with it for a while but then I stormed to the office and did my best pissed off gringa impersonation which seemed to work because it was suddenly quiet.....for half an hour. That's how long they were able to hold it in but hey you got to have some fun on Day of the DEAD, the DEAD can't hear if you're not loud enough. Believe me I think they heard. I will write more about the Day of the Dead celebration in my next installment. For now I will have to say Buenas Noches. Please feel free to reply or drop me an email. My inbox is looking pretty sad now that I'm no longer getting all those annoying Facebook messages. Lots of love,Josiane, mamita, hermana, amiga, tia (all my titles in Spanish)
Messenger wants to send you on a trip. Enter today. Hola everybody:Once again hope you're all well and still enjoying my "dispatches". Last time I wrote we were in Mazatlan so I will pick it up from there. The trip from Mazatlan to Chapala was pretty uneventful except for the "quotas" which kept getting steeper and steeper while the distances kept getting shorter and shorter. We took a little detour via Tequila on a non paying highway and continued from there to Guadalajara. Not too much to say about Tequila an altogether unimpressive town except for the acres and acres of the distinctively blue green agave from which Tequila is made. There are many roadside stands where one can sample and buy Tequila but since Stan was driving we opted not to partake. Neither of us are great fans of Tequila straight so it wasn't that big a deal.The drive into Guadalajara itself was pretty harrowing. You almost have to have eyes in back of your head. Between the topes, the vibradors, the erratic driving, the buses, the pedestrians, the bikes, the stray dogs and whatever else you can think of let's just say it's no leisurely Sunday drive in the park. Thankfully I wasn't driving and I have to say Stan is doing a fantastic job. I would probably just park the car, if parking were available, and cry. I know it makes me a sissy but I'm strong in other ways. Those of you who really know me know that driving is not one of my forte.In any case we made it to Chapala in one piece. The apt. which I had booked was not available for the night although it was empty but there was nobody there to let us in. We strolled around and took in the sights. There were a lot of people about because we arrived the day before Dia de Los Muertos which is the Day of the Dead and is heavily celebrated. Chapala is a fair size town with a population of about 20,000 plus and it is the biggest town on the lake. There is a malecon which is a promenade along the lake. It's not big but it's very wide and pretty with houses, one hotel and a few restaurants on one side and then the lake. Further on there is a small plaza with a good size Cathedral and then a park filled with vendors. There is also a long pier and all the boats are tied further out on the lake. The boats are no longer used for fishing. They mostly ferry groups of people to a nearby island. The price is pretty expensive unless there are many of you. The lake is the best that it's ever been. For many years it was infested with lirios which are African water hyacinths. They had just taken over the lake and furthermore the lake level was really low. Over the last few years there has been more rain and the authorities have finally sprayed a compound which is toxic to lirios but not to fish. Apparently the lake is now safe to swim in but we haven't really tried it. I want to before we leave. Regarding the lirios it's still a bit of a losing battle. Like the proverbial you know who THEY WILL BE BACK. In fact they are already plotting and gaining ground as I'm typing these words.We found a hotel not far from our apt. with the auspicious name of Monte-Carlo. Actually the rooms were nothing special but the grounds were spectacular with some of the biggest trees I have ever seen, one was over two hundred years old and didn't feel organic when you touched it, that's how incredibly dense it was.In any case we were brutally awaken sometime around midnight by a band of merrymakers intent on pursuing their merrymaking which happened to be right below our room. We're talking LOUD with stereo blasting, loud voices and sporadic bursts of singing. We did put up with it for a while but then I stormed to the office and did my best pissed off gringa impersonation which seemed to work because it was suddenly quiet.....for half an hour. That's how long they were able to hold it in but hey you got to have some fun on Day of the DEAD, the DEAD can't hear if you're not loud enough. Believe me I think they heard. I will write more about the Day of the Dead celebration in my next installment. For now I will have to say Buenas Noches. Please feel free to reply or drop me an email. My inbox is looking pretty sad now that I'm no longer getting all those annoying Facebook messages.

Josiane